The Department of Agriculture’s vehicle used for spraying pesticides to prevent the spread of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in sugarcane fields is making the rounds of local government units in Negros Occidental, a DA official said on Friday, May 27.
DA Negros Island Region Director Jose Albert Barrogo said the DA mobile sprayer was in La Carlota City on Thursday and in Cadiz City on Friday.
The mobile sprayer will be in Sagay City on Tuesday.
The DA provides the vehicle and the local government unit (LGU) provides the pesticides and fuel, Barrogo said.
“If the DA has available pesticides we give it to them,” he added.
Barrogo said so far no LGU in Negros Occidental has declared a state of calamity because of the RSS infestation.
The RSSI infestation has expanded to 2,027.79 hectares of sugarcane fields, with 1,980.44 hectares located in Negros Occidental, the Sugar Regulatory Administration reported on Thursday.
The other provinces hit are Negros Occidental – 3.5 hectares, Iloilo – 24.75 hectares and Capiz – 19.1 hectares.
The SRA said the 18 areas hit by RSSI in Negros Occidental are La Castellana, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, Bago City, Pulupandan, Murcia, Bacolod City, Talisay City, Don Salvador Benedicto, EB Magalona, Silay City, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Toboso, Calatrava, Sagay City and Escalante City.*